Sizewell C Nuclear Project Faces Uncertainty Over Rising Costs and EDF Priorities

The future of the £40bn UK nuclear plant is in doubt as EDF is urged to focus on domestic projects and financial challenges mount.

The estimated cost of the Sizewell C nuclear power plant in Suffolk has doubled since 2020, reaching nearly £40 billion due to inflation and delays at EDF's Hinkley Point C project.
France’s state auditor has advised EDF to delay its final investment decision on Sizewell C until it reduces financial exposure to Hinkley Point C, which has faced significant cost overruns and delays.
The UK government, which owns over 80% of Sizewell C, is seeking additional private investors but has faced challenges in securing funding for the project.
EDF has defended Sizewell C as critical for energy security and decarbonization, but critics argue the project’s financing model could burden taxpayers and consumers before it delivers power.
The Treasury is expected to decide on the project’s future in a spending review, with concerns growing over the escalating costs and EDF’s ability to manage multiple large-scale projects.